News Brief

1/3/2012, Tevet 8, 5772

Former Army Rabbi Says IDF Afraid of Religious

Former Chief Military Rabbi, Brigadier General Rabbi Avi Ronsky said that the recent decisions of the Israel Defense Forces regarding religious soldiers demonstrates a fear of the religious community. He spoke to Arutz Sheva's Hebrew language news service about the new decision or force all solders, religious or not, to attend army functions in which female soldiers sing and perform.

Rabbi Ronsky said events like Memorial Day, or Independence Day are national symbols and all soldier must attend, but, informal events may not necessarily be mandatory if they may offend the sensitivities of religious soldiers. He said that potential IDF plans to monitor Torah lectures to review what rabbis are teaching indicates a fear of the religious community and added that he hoped things could be smoothed out.